Sunshine Tour happy to LIV without it: SA golf sticks to PGA and DP World tours for future growth

Sunshine Tour commissioner Thomas Abt says South Africa is not interested in hosting a LIV Golf event in the near future.

The rebel series has dominated golfing headlines since its inaugural season last year.  

READ | LIV rebels Garcia, Westwood, Poulter quit European Tour

While LIV Golf attracted some of the world's best golfers, its low viewership and attraction has been questioned.

However, last month's inaugural Adelaide event proved a massive success, with sold-out crowds for all three rounds.

Over 35 000 fans pulled in daily at the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide to support homegrown CEO Greg Norman and local favourite Cameron Smith as Taylor Gooch sealed the $4 million winner's cheque.

SA's top four golfers in 2010 Open winner Louis Oosthuizen, 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester comprise the South African team, Stingers GC.

When asked whether LIV Golf events would make an appearance on South African shores, Abt insisted the Sunshine Tour was more interested in solidifying their partnership with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.

In the 2022/23 season, the Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned six DP World Tour events, excluding Africa's Major, the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City.

South Africa also co-sanction four Challenge Tour events, the DP World Tour's second-tier professional tour.

"We're very happy with what we're able to do, which is giving our golfers six co-sanctioned DP World Tour events," Abt told News24.

"We're playing for a huge amount of money. We've added another 25-odd events to our schedule.

"So, where we are currently right now, with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, we're extremely chuffed and pleased with what we have.

"We're not looking elsewhere to bring anything more to our